What Does it Mean to become a Member?

If you are interested in being a member of the Garden City Community Church, then the INQUIRERS’ MEETING is for you! These informal get-togethers are held in the fall and spring at convenient times so that the clergy can answer any of your questions, give a brief history of our Church, and share some of the range of activities and services we provide. Please contact the churchoffice@gardencitycommunitychurch.org if you would like to be invited.

Weddings and Baptisms at the Garden City Community Church

Whether you are a member of the Garden City Community Church or a visitor, you are welcome to join us at any time to discuss wedding or baptismal plans for you or a family member.

Baptisms are a sacrament and it is our tradition to include them as part of the worship service. As such, they are usually scheduled for the 3rd Sunday of the month. For more information, please click here for our brochure.

Weddings at the Community Church reflect the Christian tradition that affirms marriage as a holy covenant between persons of maturity and commitment. The ministers and staff of The Community Church welcome the opportunity to share this wonderful experience with you.

Scheduling, availability of the church facilities and fee schedules are available by contacting the churchoffice@gardencitycommunitychurch.org.

Support and Visitations

If you or a loved one is hospitalized, please inform the clergy by either email or phoning the church office at 516-746-1700.

Do you have a Prayer Request?

At the Garden City Community Church we have an INTERCESSORY PRAYER SERVICE every Tuesday morning at 9:30am in the Chapel. At the Prayer Service, we faithfully pray for your loved ones. If you have a request for prayer, you can send it via email to our clergy or, if you are at a church service, you can fill out the “Prayer Request” form in the pew and place it in the offering plate or give it to an Usher or Minister. All matters of prayer are strictly confidential. You are invited to join the prayer group any given Tuesday morning.

Is there a right or wrong way to pray? Ask the Clergy.

Recommended Resources

The United Church of Christ

A community of faith that seeks to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. The UCC was founded in 1957 as the union of several different Christian traditions. From the beginning of our history, we were a church that affirmed the ideal that Christians did not always have to agree to live together in communion. Our motto—"that they may all be one"—is Jesus' prayer for the unity of the church. The UCC is one of the most diverse Christian denominations in the United States.

Please visit the Lutheran Counseling Center of New York website for more information about the services provided or an appointment with a counselor at any of the sites in Nassau, Suffolk, Manhattan, Queens or Westchester.

COPING WITH GRIEF By Mary Rzeszut, LMSW, LCC Staff Counselor
An excerpt from ON Center- ‘The Counselor’s Feature’ page of lccny.org.

The loss of a loved one has been rated as one of the most stressful of all life-changing experiences. The internal thoughts and feelings experienced following a loss are called grief. During the grief process it is normal to experience a roller coaster of emotions beginning with shock and numbness. You may feel anger in general or at a particular situation. A feeling of guilt is also often experienced as you may feel you “should have” or “could have” done something to prevent the death. Those experiencing grief may have strange dreams or nightmares, withdraw socially, or lack the desire to participate in once pleasurable activities or to return to work. All of these feelings are normal. Experiencing this intense pain is very difficult and avoided by most people; however, these emotions need to be felt for the healing process to begin. Blocking the grieving process will only delay the ability to eventually recover.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve; it is a personal and unique experience. Grief can last for as long as it takes for someone to accept and learn to live with the loss. This can range from a few months to a few years.

In addition to grieving, it is important that one mourns the loss of a loved one. Mourning is the outward expression of thoughts and feelings; it is the active participation of the grief journey. Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., C.T., an internationally noted author, educator and grief counselor, believes that all mourners must work towards reconciliation, which is the reality of moving forward in life. He has created the six “reconciliation needs of mourning”. They are as follows:

• Need 1. Acknowledging the reality of the death - gently confronting the reality of the loss.
• Need 2. Embracing the pain of the loss – confront the pain, rather that avoiding or denying it.
• Need 3. Remembering the person who died – remembering the past makes hope for the future possible.
• Need 4. Developing a new self-identity – taking on new roles is difficult but at the same time can develop a renewed self-confidence
• Need 5. Searching for meaning- questioning your philosophy on life and exploring your religious and spiritual values.
• Need 6. Receiving ongoing support from others – the quality and quantity of the support that you receive will influence the capacity to heal.

If you have experienced a loss, do not grieve alone. The most important factor in coping with grief is having the support of others. Even if discussing feelings under normal circumstances is uncomfortable, it is important to express feelings while going through the grief process. Support can come from a number of different sources; friends, family, faith community, bereavement groups or professional counseling. Accept and seek support from others.

Mary Rzeszut, LMSW, received her Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University. She works as a Medical Social Worker at Winthrop Hospital with End Stage Renal Disease patients. As a counselor with Lutheran Counseling Center, Ms. Rzeszut counsels teens and adults in dealing with many mental health issues, including domestic violence, chronic illness and grief. She works as a counselor for LCC’s Mineola and Dix Hills sites.

Mary Rzeszut, LMSW, received her Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University. She works as a Medical Social Worker at Winthrop Hospital with End Stage Renal Disease patients. As a counselor with Lutheran Counseling Center, Ms. Rzeszut counsels teens and adults in dealing with many mental health issues, including domestic violence, chronic illness and grief. She works as a counselor for LCC’s Mineola and Dix Hills sites.